Application-layer networks (ALN) are software
architectures that allow the provisioning of services
requiring a huge amount of resources by connecting large
numbers of individual computers, e.g. grids and P2P-Networks.
Self-organization, like proposed by the
autonomic computing concept, might be the key to
controlling these systems. The CATNET project evaluates a
decentralized mechanism for resource allocation in ALN,
based on the economic paradigm of the Catallaxy. The
economic model is based on self-interested maximization
of utility and self-interested cooperation between software
agents, who buy and sell network services and resources
to and from each other.Peer reviewed